Dehavilland DHC 2 MK.I accident near Nikolai, Alaska, September 14, 2015
On September 14, 2015 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1958 Dehavilland DHC 2 MK.I, registered N676SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Nikolai, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control during a water takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not examined due to the remote accident location.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2015 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nikolai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DHC 2 MK.I NO SERIES, built 1958 · all DHC 2 MK.Is on the register
- Registration
- N676SP · no longer on the register · serial 1247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the commercial pilot, the flight of two float-equipped company airplanes was proceeding to the river for a passenger and cargo pickup. The accident airplane landed at the primary landing site on the river, and the pilot subsequently instructed the captains of the awaiting boats to move down river to the longer, alternate landing site where the second airplane was waiting. While departing the primary site to reposition the airplane to the alternate landing site and upon reaching the step phase of the takeoff from the river, the airplane's left wing impacted a tree, and the airplane then impacted a riverbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that he was unable to achieve sufficient directional control to avoid impact with the tree and riverbank while taking off from the river. Due to the remote accident location, the airplane was not examined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,937 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 14, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-985 (piston); 10,218 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Galena AK
- Destination: Nikolai AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.46 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from PAFS, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.